This week Nick talks to Sir Nigel Knowles

Sir Nigel has been Chairman of Zeus Capital since 2014. As Managing Partner of DLA Piper from 1996 to 2016, he oversaw the firm's expansion from a UK regional practice into the world's largest global business law firm. He is currently CEO of DWF, the publicly listed international law firm. Sir Nigel has also served as High Sheriff of Greater London, chairs the Sheffield City Region LEP, and is a Council Member of The Prince's Trust.

Nick and Nigel discuss Sir Nigel's path from a working-class upbringing in Stocksbridge, Sheffield, to building DLA Piper into the world's largest law firm. Sir Nigel reflects on the formative influence of working in his father and uncle's grocery shops, which instilled in him a practical understanding of profit and commerce, and credits an inspirational law lecturer, Arthur Goodwin, with steering him towards a legal career. From there, he traces his progression from article clerk at Broom Heads and Neals in 1978 through a series of mergers and expansions that eventually gave rise to DLA Piper as one of the largest law firms in the world.

Sir Nigel's book choices where:
Anything by John Kotter
John le Carré The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Sir Nigel's music choice was:
Les Misérables

This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Dr Ewan Kirk

Dr Ewan Kirk is a British technology entrepreneur, founder of Cantab Capital Partners, until recently was chair of the Issac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and Non-Executive Director of BAE Systems. He is also Co-Chair of the Turner Kirk Trust, which supports STEM, education, and conservation causes in the UK and the developing world.

Nick and Ewan discuss Ewan’s journey to becoming a leading figure in quantitative finance, from his early passion for maths, physics, and computing through to entrepreneurship and investment banking. They explore how his technical curiosity led him to build and sell software before joining Goldman Sachs, where he played a key role in developing and scaling derivatives trading, highlighting the importance of combining technical expertise with commercial instinct. The conversation also covers his departure from Goldman, reflections on risk and career decisions, and the founding of Cantab Capital Partners, where he applied systematic, data-driven trading strategies.

Ewan's Book Choice was:
The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
Ewan Music Choice was:
Sweet Jane by The Velvet Underground

This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Christen Gilchrist

Christen is an organisational psychologist who applies psychological principles to the workplace, helping businesses improve how their people, teams and structures function. Drawing on behavioural science and systems thinking, she works across leadership, change, performance and culture, diagnosing what isn't working and designing more effective ways of working.

Nick and Christen discuss her journey from social care and NHS bed management to founding Core Potential Solutions, an organisational psychology consultancy. Her early experience navigating dysfunctional systems in the NHS gave her a clear lens on how broken processes impact both people and performance — and a drive to help organisations do better.

The conversation also covers the realities of building a consultancy business, including the challenge of marketing sensitive, high-level work where clients rarely allow their engagements to be made public.

Find out more about Christen's work at Core Potential Solutions

Christen's Book Choices
Thinking Systems by Donella Meadows
Four Thousands Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Christen's Music Choice
Old Pine by Ben Howard

This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.